Billy Gardell’s “The Vortex”
The Lindsay is hosting the exclusive regional run of Swissvale native Billy Gardell’s new gambling drama.
February 14 @ 5:30 pm – February 20 @ 7:15 pm
The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center will be the only place in Western Pennsylvania for fans of Swissvale native Billy Gardell to check out his first-ever lead dramatic role in a film.
The Vortex is set in the 1980s and stars Gardell as Pete Finnegan, a gambling addict and the in-house comedian at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Pete ends up playing shrink to a host of colorful misfits while dodging mobsters and “collectors.”
The Vortex will play at The Lindsay from Feb. 14-20. Tickets are currently on sale for $11.
The Lindsay will be one of only a few theaters around the country licensed to show The Vortex during its initial theatrical run. The film will also debut in Los Angeles, Chicago and Orlando, Fla.
“My hometown has been behind me since the early days, so I try to share everything I do with Pittsburgh,” says Gardell, a comedian most well-known for his starring roles in CBS sitcoms Mike & Molly and Bob Hearts Abishola. “They made me who I am, and so they will always get the first look.”
The film’s title refers to Gardell’s character “being caught in the vortex of his gambling addiction,” says director and co-writer Richard Zelniker. Its cast also includes Jaina Lee Ortiz (Station 19), Jamie McShane (Wednesday), Azita Ghanizada (Suits: L.A.), Emily Alabi (FBI), Nick Gomez (Fargo) and Christopher Titus (Titus).
“As the co-writer, producer and director, I’m humbled and grateful to say I believe we’ve created something truly special,” Zelniker says. “I envisioned this film being experienced in the sacred space of a theater—on the silver screen, in the dark, with an audience.”
Pittsburghers will definitely want to watch Gardell flex his dramatic muscles in The Vortex.
“It was a great experience to play a different tone as an actor, and this film gave me a chance to do that,” Gardell says. “I think that’s the key to continuing to get better and better at your job.”
Adds Zelniker: “There’s nothing better than seeing a local hero like Billy Gardell shine in such a unique way. He’s phenomenal in this film, and it’s a treat Pittsburghers won’t want to miss.”
